Herdlevær and Skogsøy 01-02 July 2022 - Autumn migration and Sandwich Terns

FINALLY made it out of the house for a couple of quick trips. 

Getting out in the field showed that there are indeed birds to be seen if one can get away from a computer.

My usual round at Herdlevær on 01 July was almost too hot to bird despite it being early morning. Best bird was a migrating Whimbrel småspove.

On 02 July in slightly cooler and windier conditions there was not much going on over the sea - just small numbers of Gannets havsule and Common Scoter svartand. That was until shortly after 0800 when two Sandwich Terns splitterne headed south at decent range. This species is barely annual in Øygarden.

Lesser Black-backed Gull sildemåke

Male Linnet tornirisk - one of the commoner finches in Øygarden during the breeding season

Above and below: Sandwich Tern splitterne (together with Common Gull fiskemåke below)

On my way home I picked up a smart male Ruff brushane at Husvatnet and a Woodcock rugde at Sture. 

Male Ruff brushane in for landing

Males in almost full breeding dress are not a common sight in Øygarden - although the species used to breed at Tjeldstø just a few decades ago

Skogsøy 12 August 2018 - Somewhat predictably......

Calm.

The view at 08:00

Once again I made it out just in time. Just as I was about to take my rucksack off two terns came past with a small flock of Common Gulls fiskemåke. I raised my binoculars, realised immediately that they were Sandwich Terns splitterne - a rare (but probably under recorded) species here in Øygarden / Hordaland. I frantically unpacked my camera and fired off a few shots - but settings had changed and at F22 the shutter speed let me down a bit....

Record shots of Sandwich Terns spiltterne

Part of a Shag toppskarv flock

Young Wren gjerdesmett

After that it was rather downhill but still a lot more migration than the last couple of days. A steady passage of Common Gull fiskemåke, several flocks of Oystercatcher tjeld and a decent movement of Shags toppskarv made up the numbers.  Quality birds were the first (for me) Red-throated Diver smålom of the autumn, an Arctic Skua tyvjo and a Sanderling sandløper.

I glimpsed some fins which looked very dolphin-like but never refound them. However, a tuna or two put in a typically splashy appearance whilst I searched.

On my way home I saw what looked very much like a Hobby lerkefalk and went out looking for it later but found only several White-tailed Eagle havørn and decent numbers of finches included a flock of 20 Twite bergirisk and several Brambling bjørkefink.

Skogsøy 03 July 2017 - Weather is great / quality not quantity

A lot of normal people complain about the weather here in the west of Norway. I love it! Weather brings the birds - in this case the strong winds of yesterday afternoon / evening pushed seabirds close to land and gave a spectacular backdrop.

I can cope with a few days of what the general population call good weather and may even spend time with my family under such conditions - as has been the case of late. The last few days I've been fishing, swimming and even camping in attempt to fit in.

However, today I was back at the coal face for an early morning shift. Cracking light and a westerly breeze after the very strong winds during the night meant there were plenty (92) of Gannet havsule to see in the two hours or so I spent out there. Many passed very close giving amazing views.

Highlight were among the first birds to pass - a flock of three Sandwich Terns splitterne together with a 2cy Kittiwake krykkje. Whilst they were a long way off this caused some initial confusion as I kept thinking Sandwich Tern but the gull kept popping into view. Next best bird was a nice Long-tailed Skua fjelljo - though not a full adult.

This might just be a record shot - the three birds in front are Sandwich terns splitterne, the one on the left is obviously a second year Kittiwake krykkje.

Even more cropping shows two of the terns....

...and three

The welcoming committee - an adult Raven ravn with a recently fledged youngster

Adult Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke with food for its young

Two southbound Red-throated Diver smålom

2cy Kittiwake krykkje - not the same bird as with the terns but very similar in terms of plumage.

As so often at this time of year it was quality rather than quantity - not much else passed - just a couple of Puffin lunde, a Guillemot lomvi, a few Red-throated Diver smålom and a Fulmar havhest.

Heard the Corncrake åkerrikse singing again from Herdlevær on the way out.

Skogsøy 01 May 2016 - Enduro 2

Rain at first, then strengthening southerly winds.

I slept in today and didn't get out of bed until 05:10 - shocking given the time of year. It makes me wonder how I managed to keep going every day for 2.5 months back in 2006.

The rush to get out there was a total waste of time and effort in so many ways as it meant I arrived just as it started to rain - a band of cloud passed over Skogsøy for an hour emptying its contents onto me. Even more frustrating was the fact that there was obviously clear sunny weather inland AND out to sea. It was at this point I discovered my fjellduk (bivvy bag in English is the nearest I can get) was in my OTHER rucksack. Elementary mistake.

Wet through my core temperature dropped alarmingly and I soon lost the use of my fingers. There was stuff passing but impossible to see through wet lenses. As soon as the rain stopped there was a rush of birds all very close in but this soon fizzled out to nothing.

Bird of the day - Sandwich Tern splitterne. I think this massively cropped image just about qualifies for the term "record shot". Mr Rix might disagree though.....:)

Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås

Common Scoter svartand heading the wrong way

Gannet havsule

The first Greylag grågås chicks of 2016

White-tailed Eagle havørn - only just managed to get the whole bird in the frame

This might sound rather disasterous - but it wasn't! A Sandwich Tern splitterne put in a brief and most welcome appearance, small numbers of Wigeon brunnakke were the first for Øygarden this year and several flocks of Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås headed north. The only diver of the day was a single White-billed gulnebblom.

The first Greylag grågås chicks were bang on time at Tjeldstø on the way home.

Skogsøy 05 July 2015 - SUrprisingly productive seawatch

Calm and windless.

Given the time of year and the conditions expectations were not that high. One can always hope though and a couple of hours spent seawatching from just before 0600 provided a bit of everything with seabirds, autumn migration and a rarity or two.

Rook kornkråke

Highlight was a flock of four Sandwich Terns splitterne heading steadily north - although classed as a county rarity (approx 15 county records, the majority of which are from Øygarden) this species undoubtedly occurs quite regularly - it is more a question of coverage. A Rook kornkråke close to where we park was an unusual July record and is probably the same bird that has been hanging around in Øygarden since the spring.

Shelduck gravand

Autumn migration included 23 Shelduck gravand heading south - including a massive flock of 18.(which was my previous best count). This is the second highest count of this species in Øygarden (and quite possibly the county). Also small numbers of Oystercatcher tjeld on the move along with a single Curlew storspove.

Gannets havsule

Seabirds were the usual suspects for the time of year and included small numbers of Gannet havssule, a Black Guillemot teist, a single Great Skua storjo and several flocks of Common Scoter svartand.

One of several curious Crested Tits toppmeis seen in the woods

Skogsøy 05 August 2009

Two southbound Shelduck gravand

Woodpigeon ringdue

Not the same spectacular migration as of a couple of days ago but still worth the effort. "Just" hundreds each of Oystercatcher tjeld and Common Gull fiskemåke along with 65 Ringed Plover sandlo, a couple of Grey Plover tundralo, a Bar-tailed Godwit lappspove, six Greenshank gluttsnipe, 14 Golden Plover heilo, 2 Common Redshank rødstilk and wader of the day - a Little Stint dvergsnipe.

The highlight was a Sandwich Tern splitterne heading south at just after 06:00 - the first "autumn" bird I've seen at Skogsøy.

Other stuff worth a mention included a Great Skua storjo, six Shelduck gravand and a Velvet Scoter sjøorre.